Campaigners want lane to be made a bridleway

THE fight to protect a green lane on the outskirts of Oswestry has re-ignited following the submission of a prohibition order.
The plan to stop all vehicles travelling up Love Lane off the B5069 was put forward by Shropshire Council last month, but with exceptions including providing access to adjoining houses.
Campaigners say they fear the exceptions could open the floodgates for vehicles using the route and instead want the lane to become a designated bridleway.
It follows a similar application made in relation to outline plans to build a single property within the grounds of a Morda Close property, but which would have required access via Love Lane.
Local resident John Abram told Oswestry Town Council’s Development and Planning Committee meeting: “Regrettably this exemption appears to actively encourage rather than discourage any owner of an adjoining property to use Love Lane for alternative access.
“In our opinion action is needed now to prevent the lane being lost forever as a green lane and becoming a potentially hazardous vehicle access into the already busy Morda Road.”
Councillors supported the call but said the exceptions rather than the order should be opposed, agreeing to request the exception for vehicles used to repair work on the road, adjacent buildings or utilities because there are none on there, as well as for those requiring access to adjoining dwellings be removed.
Councillor Martin Bennett commented: “The best way forward is agree to the provision order and then do not agree with the exceptions which have been set out simply because they do not appear to support the aims of the order.”
He also welcomed the bridleway proposal.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Abrams said: “On balance while we would have naturally have wanted to go for the bridleway we can understand what had been said and so this is the best we could have expected.
“They have called for the removal of the two most contentious exceptions and that is a good step in the right direction.”